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Reticence: meaning, definitions and examples

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reticence

 

[ ˈrɛtɪs(ə)ns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in communication

The quality of being reserved or reluctant in expressing thoughts or feelings.

Synonyms

hesitation, reluctance, reserve, restraint

Examples of usage

  • She maintained a certain reticence about her past.
  • His reticence in the meeting made it difficult to gauge his true feelings.
  • I could sense a hint of reticence in her voice as she spoke about the topic.
Context #2 | Noun

in behavior

The tendency to be silent or uncommunicative in social interactions.

Synonyms

quietness, reservedness, shyness, silence

Examples of usage

  • His reticence at the party made him seem aloof and unapproachable.
  • She overcame her reticence and started to engage more actively in conversations.
  • His reticence in group settings was often misunderstood as arrogance.

Translations

Translations of the word "reticence" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reticência

🇮🇳 अल्पभाषिता

🇩🇪 Zurückhaltung

🇮🇩 kerahasiaan

🇺🇦 стриманість

🇵🇱 powściągliwość

🇯🇵 無口

🇫🇷 réticence

🇪🇸 reticencia

🇹🇷 suskunluk

🇰🇷 과묵

🇸🇦 تحفظ

🇨🇿 zdrženlivost

🇸🇰 zdrženlivosť

🇨🇳 沉默

🇸🇮 zadržanost

🇮🇸 þagmælska

🇰🇿 ұстамдылық

🇬🇪 თავშეკავებულობა

🇦🇿 susqunluq

🇲🇽 reticencia

Etymology

The word 'reticence' originated from the Latin word 'reticentia', which means 'silence' or 'keeping silent'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. The concept of reticence has been explored in various literary works and psychological studies, highlighting the importance of nonverbal communication and the power of silence in interpersonal relationships.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,079, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.